Washing fluid injector



Sept. 15, 1942. B RAY 2,296,055

` WASHING FLUID` INJEGTOR Filed March 1s, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 raroZai.

INVENT H15 ATro sept. 15, 1942. VH1 B RAY' l 2,296,055

WASHING FLUID INJIEGTOR Filed March 18,` 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

Y 5:6 4 Harolalf.

Patentod Sepa1`5,'19'42 'uNirEo "STATES PATENT OFFICEN N :,zsaos 4Alllulilltitm March I18, 1940, Scl'ill N0. 324,539 6 Claim. ((1299-84) 'rms invention nos on its pnnoipni objoot rno provision of a method and improved means for injecting a washing fluid into 'the wash water of a i dish washing or analogous machine.

A further object is the provision of a means for measuring or `metering a predetermined quantity.

of concentrated washing iluid into the wash water of a machine of the class described by by-passing portions -of rinsing water into certain meteringand injecting mechanism.

A further object is the combination with a washing machine including a reservoir for wash water and a water intake supplying rinsing water, of washing fluid injecting means including a concentrating tank which provides a source of saturated alkaline washing fluid, a feed line for delivering washing uid to the wash water. a slphon metering tank through which predetermined or measured quantities of water may be by-passed from the water supply line and delivered partly into the concentrating tank and partly into the feed line, together with means for' transferring measured quantities of concentrate from the concentrating tank into the feed line as a result of the by-passing of water from the supply line.

Still another object is the provision of an improved concentrating means including a tank having a conical foraminous receptacle adapted to receive an alkalineor other washing compound for dilution in water contained in the tank, means for introducing water into the tank in the regionof the apexof the conical receptacle so that the. less readily soluble portions of the compound willhave water actively circulated thereabout, and t sloped wall portions in the tank for returning excess washing compound to the region of inilowing water when the solution is supersaturaied.

Yet another object is the arrangement of injecting means so that the concentrated washing iluid will be introduced in relatively small quantities into a feeding or injecting line leading"to the washing machine and relatively larger quantities of diluting wash water will thereafter be fed through the injecting line to ilush the same and reduce troubles due to corrosion, crust formation and the like. l

A still further object is the provision of means for bringing together saturated washing liquid and diluting water in predetermined quantities for admixture prior to or substantially simultaneously with the passage thereof into the main feeding or injecting line leading into the washing machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention the construction realized by the practice thereof, as exemplified in the annexeddrawings, taken in view of the speclilcation, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a' dishwashing machine employing the improved injecting means shown in elevation; 4

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the injecting means of Fis. 1; i

tank;

Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation of the regulating valves;

rig. 5 is a voruoou section through a modinod injecting device; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through an alarm arrangement for use with the injecting mechanism.

Y provided a means Il for racking dishes to be sprayed by the washing iiuid issued from whirling sprays Il fed with washing iiuid from the reservoir ilby action of a pump I5. The washing liquid after being sprayed forcibly over the dishes as aforesaid, gravitates back throughy a strainer IB 'into the reservoir Il in which the level of the liquid I2 is maintained constant by action of an overilow duct I1 leading to a drainage gutter.

When the dishes have `been sprayed with the washing liquid a sulcient time, pump f I! is stopped and a crank It is manipulated to operate a multiple valve I9 which cuts off the force feed line from pump II and admits hot rinsing water from a supply line 2l fo'r passage through a duct 2| into lower and upper rinsing sprays 22. 'I'he rinsingwaten from the supply line is clear and gravitates into reservoir ll to dilute the washing liquid I2, the dilution occurring most rapidly in the upper part of tank I I so that weaker portions of the washing mixture are the ilrst to be drained on through the overow duct I1.

It will be apparent that the washing liquid I2 wouldI soon be too dilute for effective use as a result of the" repeated inilux of clear rinsing water,v and various expediencies have been resorted to heretofore for the purpose of strengthvening or restoring the proper concentration of relate to certain details of the method aswell as alkalinity to the body of the washing liquid I2.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the concentrating- In accordance with the method and means of the present invention, a portionA of the clear rinsing water is by-passed into a measuring device which cooperates with a tank containing saturated washing liquid which is automatically transferred into the reservoir in the washing machine following each rinsing operation.

Referring to Fig. 2, the improved injecting apparatus includes a measuring device in the preferred form of an elevated tank 25 into the upper region of which is introduced clear rinsing water` through a pipe 26 connected through a regulating valve 2l and a pipe 23 (Fig. 1) to the multiplevalve |9. Within the metering device is a siphon 29 leading through the bottom thereof and provided with a breather 30 to Iprevent air locks. The arrangement is such that when the water level in tank 25 passes above the bend in the siphon 29, the incoming clear water will be delivered into a pipe 3| discharging as at 32 into an injecting or feeding line or pipe 33 (Fig. 1 also) discharging as at 34 into the bottom region of the reservoir in the washing machine.

A portion of the metered clear water is bypassed from the measuring device 25 through a regulating valve 35 and a duct 36 into the bottom region of a concentrating tank 3l which contains a quantity 38 of saturated washing fluid which is maintained in its condition of saturation by the presence of a supply of the washing chemical 39 in a conical foraminous container 4l.

The foraminous container 46 is preferably constructed of a suitable metal screening of relatively fine mesh, the apex 4| of the cone being situated opposite the discharge end of pipe 36. the upper end or base portion of the cone being rigidly attached to a mounting frame 42 which is provided with opposite horizontal flange portions 43 (Fig. 3) adapted to engage the upper edge portions of the concentrating tank.

, The washing chemical or compound 39 is usually of a granular or lumpy consistency and dissolves in the body of the liquid 33 through the openings in the cone in proportion as the concentrated liquid is diluted by by-passed portions of clear water entering from pipe 36.

One of the purposes of the conical receptacle is to cause the heavier and sometimes less readily soluble lumps or portions of the washing chemical 39 to gravitate toward the bottom or apex 4| of the cone where the movement of diluting liquid is most active, being close to and approximately opposite the point of eillux of clear water from the lower end of pipe 36.

It will be apparent that the foregoing arrangement in the concentrating tank provides a means which affords a supply of saturated or concentrated washing liquid. Small portions of the concentrate must be delivered or injected periodically into the more dilute supply in the main reservoir and to this end there is provided means for automatically transferring measured amounts of the concentrate into the intake or feedingline 33, this means including the provision of a baille or Weir 45 (Fig. 3) extending in a direction crosswise of the tank 31 at the end thereof opposite the cone and forming a small measuring compartment 46, thev bottom of which is a downwardly pitched apron 41 directed toward the bottom or apex 4| of the foraminousv cone. The purpose of the pitched floor or apron 4l, it may be observed, is to direct any of the liquid back toward the region beneath the apex 4| for re-solution by the incoming clear water. The injecting means is completed by the provision of a siphon 48 connected as at 49 to the downwardly leading portion of the supply pipe 3| so as to siphon oi a certain quantity of the concentrate in chamber 46 and deliver the same into the supply line 3l for admixture with the relatively greater volume of incoming clear water from the measuring device 25, the amount of concentrate which is injected depending upon the size and elevation of the siphon 48 with respeclt to the other parts of the concentrating tan In the operation of the device of Fig. 2, referring conveniently to Fig. l, there is normally a quantity 39 of concentrated washing solution in the concentrating tank3l, and when the operator manipulates valve handle I8 to start the rinsing operation, part of the clear rinsing water is bypassed through pipe 28 into the measuring device 25. A relatively short period of time (e. g. 10-30 seconds) must elapse before the metering tank 35 is lled to a level suillcient to start the operation of siphon 29. This period corresponds to the time during which the dishes are to be rinsed and it may be regulated by properly setting the valve 2l which controls the flow through the pipe 28, this valve, as shown [in Fig. 4, being preferably provided with a scale 21a calibrated to designate desired rinsing periods.

As soon as the siphon begins to operate in the metering device 25 the attendant will observe the passage of liquid from the discharge end 32 'of the clear water pipe 3| into the funneled mouth 33a of the injection or feeding line and he will solute which may settle out of the concentrated thus be apprised of the fact that the rinsing period is ended whereupon the valve means Iii-I9 will be operated to shut oil the rinsing water.

Meanwhile a relatively small portion of the clear Water in the metering tank 25 will be bypassedV through regulating valve 35 into the concentrating tank 31 and the liquid level will rise and spill over the weir 45 into the measuring chamber 46, there being a further short lapse of time before the liquid level in chamber 46 rises high enough to' cause operation of siphon 49 to direct the operation of the concentrate through the connection 49 for admixture with the clear water in pipe 3|. Valve 35 is also provided with a calibrated scale 35a to facilitate regulation of the amount of clear water by-passed into the concentrating tank, which amount is always less than the amount passing around the tank through the supply pipe 3|, in consequence of which the concentrated wash liquid is washed out of the lower portions of pipe 3| and the intake or injecting pipe or line 33 so that these latter'parts need not be constructed of the relatively more expensive corrosion-resistant metals of which the concentrating tank 3l and associated parts must be made, the injecting line in this respectbein'g self-flushing.

As seen in Fig. 1, the replenishing inflow of fresh washing liquid discharges from the Flower end 34 of the injection pipe close to thebottom of the reservoir vsoy that the jrel ively uncontaminated liquid has a chance to gtj'iynto the main body of washing liquid i2, this mixing being further facilitated by convection currentsset 'up in the liquid by a heating device H beneath the reservoir.

In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 5 the injecting mechanism takes the form of a combination concentrating and mixing tank including a'chamber Il separated by a crosswise baille or weir Il from a mixing chamber 52. The usual concentrated liquid is maintained to the top of the weir in chamber I by use ci a cone Il similar to the device III of Fig. 2 and contain ing a supply o! alkaline or otherwashing chemical in granular or subdivided iorm deposited directly into the cone or contained in suitable bags. As in the case of Fig. 2, the apex I3 oi the cone is situated near the bottom of the chamber and.

closely opposite the discharge end. of a by-pass duct 55 connected throughs. regulating valve 58 to a rinsing water supply line 51 which may in turn be connected through another regulating valve 58 to the multiple water control valve I9 asl in the arrangement of Fig. 1. l

In the device of Fig. 5, the metering means is self-contained in that the inilowing water ilowthat the appended claims shall include all equivl y aient arrangements fairly coming within their ing into the concentrating chamber 50 must rise to spill over the weirl into the mixing chamber I2 for admixture with the main body of clear vwater which is by-passed around the concentrat- `he is thereby given an indication that the rinsing period Ais over. The difference between the arrangement of Figs. 2 and 5'is pointed out in that the device of Fig. 5 is a forced feed system both with -respect to the concentrating chamber 50 and the lmixing chamber, this latter arrangement being especially suitable for larger installa.- tions wherein it is necessary to handle larger volumes of washing liquid in short periods of time and where the pressure from the water supply line does not vary enough to throw oil thetiming action objectionably.

In Fig. 6 there is shown an alarm mechanism to replace the visual indication given the attendant by the passage of liquid into the mouth 33a of the injection line, and this mechanism including the provision of an auxiliary iloat tank 10 mounted beneath the mixing chamber 52 of the device of Fig. 5 for example (or chamber 46 in the device of Fig. 2), and adapted to receive the concentrate through a siphon 1| so as to raise a oat 12 to displacea switchoperating arm 13 and close a switchll in an energizing circuit for a signaling device such as the bell 15,. the concentrate Vilowing into the injection linel 33 from the auxiliary chamber. Thus, as soon as the measured quantity of injection liquid begins to rise in chamber l0 the bell will ring to indicate the completion oi the rinsing period. It is contemplated that the injection apparatus may be employed with the type of dish washing machines which include separate washing and rinsing compartments or units. l'n such a case, it will be apparent that there will be no4 clear rinsing water mixed with the washing liquid inthe washing unit and the injection apparatus will oi'necessity have to be connected to the rinsing supply line in the rinsing unit and the injection line be connected to the reservoir in the washing unit.

call.

Having thus described my invention, what I claiml as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l l; In a deviceot the class described, injecting means including a concentrating tank adapted to contain a certain volume of washing liquid, means in said tank for maintaining a supply of washing substance to bedissolved in said liquid ior` maintaining a desired concentration thereof,

a `metering tank positioned above said concentrting tank, means for by-passing quantities of waterj into said concentrating tank from said metering tank when the water level in the latter has reached a given height, means Ifor diverting water from the metering tank into a delivery line, and means for siphoning a given quantity of concentrate from said concentrating tank into said delivery line.

2. In a device of the class described, injecting ,means including a concentrating tank `adapted to contain a certain volume of washing liquid, means infsaid tank for maintaining a supply of washing-substance to be dissolved in said liquid for' maintaining a desired concentration thereof, a metering tank positioned above said concentrating tank, means for by-passing quantities of water into said concentrating tank from said metering tank when the water level in the latter has reached a given height, means for diverting water fromv the metering tank into a delivery line, means controlled by the change in liquid level in the concentrating tank and resulting from the .admission thereto of bj1-passed water,

, for siphoning a given quantity of concentrate predetermined volume of liquid flows into the,

fromsaid-concentrating tank into said delivery line.

3.'In a device of the class described, a combination concentrating and measuring device including a tank, means providing `a Weir dividing said tank into a concentrating chamber and a mixing chamber, means for owing a liquid into said concentrating chamber, said liquidoverilowing into the mixing chamber when more than a concentrating chamber, means for maintaining a quantity of chemical to be dissolved in said liquid in the concentrating chamber, means bypassing portions of said liquid past said concentrating chamber into said mixing chamber, and a siphon arranged in said mixing chamber to siphon ofi predetermined amountsof a mixture of the overiiowed concentrate and the by-passed liquid.`

4. A combination concentrating and measuring device including a tank, means dividing said tank into two chambers and providing for liquid overilow from the ilrst chamber into the second chamber, means for introducing a liquid into said ilrst chamber and siphon means in said second chamber to siphon off predetermined amounts of liquid ov'erflowed into the second The various advantages and .objects oi the i ciilcally'described herein, and it is intended .j

chamber as aforesaid providing a predetermined volume of liquid be overflowed from the first chamber to start the siphon.

5. A combination concentrating and measuring device including a` tank, means dividing said tank into two chambers and providing for liquid overflow from the ilrst chamber into the second chamber, means for introducing a liquid into said iirst chamber and siphon means in said second chamber to siphon oi predetermined amounts of liquid overiiowed into the second chamber as transfer a predetermined volumeof liquid into said rst chamber when the liquid level in said device reaches a certain level from said source of supply.

6. In an injecting device,. the combination of 10 a concentrating tank adapted to contain a solution, means containing a supply of solute in said solution to maintain a saturated condition therein, a siphon tank adapted for connection with a source of solvent supply and arranged l5 to deliver solvent therefrom to said concentrating tank by siphon action when a predetermined volume of solvent is introduced into said siphon tank, and siphon means operatively associated with said concentrating tank for leading oil.' from the latter predetermined quantities of the concentrate responsive to certain changes in the liquid level in the concentrating tank eilected by operation of the siphon means in said siphon tank, and means for mixing the concentrate led oi'f as aforesaid with quantities of solvent from said source of supply, and means for adjusting the volumetric ratio between the amount o! solvent and concentrate to be mixed as aforesaid;

HAROLD B. RAY. 

